Toothbrush cover and stand



June 20, 1967 s. R. MERANTO 3,325,847

TOOTHBRUSH COVER AND STAND Filed May 13, 1966 I N VENTOR.

EM 0914M A TTORNE V SAMUEL R MERANTO United States Patent 3,325,847 TOOTHBRUSH COVER AND STAND Samuel R. Meranto, 7 Usher Road, North Grafton, Mass. 01536 Filed May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 550,027 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-184) This invention relates to a toothbrush cover and stand and more particularly, to a cover adapted to encompass the bristle portion only of a toothbrush.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a toothbrush cover which will effectively protect the bristle portion when the toothbrush is not in use and which can be used in conjunction with any conventional toothbrush without requiring any modification of the handle portion thereof.

It is a further object to provide such a cover which when in position over the bristle portion will still enable the toothbrush to be stored in a vertical position in a conventional rack therefor.

It is still another object to provide such a cover which may further serve as a supporting stand for the toothbrush when it is'desired temporarily to set the brush down on a supporting surface, and which may also serve as an additional gripping means When the toothbrush is in use.

It is a further object to provide a cover which may be removed from and applied to the bristle portion of the brush without the possibility of coming into contact with the bristles themselves so that the bristles are not deformed.

It is a further object to provide a toothbrush cover which is open at one end portion thereof and which has a hinged lip at the other end, the lip permitting the cover to slide lengthwise of the toothbrush in a channel provided in the cover for that purpose, the lip covering the bristle end when the brush is not in use and the end opening in the cover allowing circulation of air thereinto so that the bristles may dry during non-use.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying figures of drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the cover applied to the bristle portion of a toothbrush where it would be placed when the brush is stored and not in use;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a view of the cover as seen looking toward the open end thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view of the opposite end of the cover;

FIG. 5 illustrates the relative positions of toothbrush and cover when the latter is acting as a stand for the toothbrush or as an additional gripping means during brushing; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a further standing position for the toothbrush and cover.

In FIG. 1 a conventional toothbrush is generally indicated by arrow 10 and comprises a handle portion 11 having the usual bristles 12 embedded in head portion 13 thereof.

The cover is generally indicated at 14 and comprises a tubular member having an external configuration which may be substantially cylindrical or generally rectangular, and having a length somewhat greater than the bristle portion of the toothbrush. The cover is preferably formed of a resilient plastic material and may also be formed of synthetic or natural rubber.

In its interior cover 14 includes a pair of oppositely disposed, inwardly directed ribs 15, 16 extending substantially the entire length thereof and which, together with adjoining portion 17 of the cover, form a restricted channel 18 adapted to fit snugly around the handle portion 11 of the brush as seen in FIG. 2. The ribs 15 and 16 are spaced apart just sufficiently to overlap the edges of head portion 13 which are adjacent the bristles. Such a construction permits the cover to be forcingly slid along the handle portion and to remain in any set position.

The bristle receiving pocket 19 is preferably sufiiciently large so that no part of the protruding bristles touches the adjacent cover and also to allow circulation of air around the bristles so that these may dry out when the brush is not in use.

One end 20 of the cover is completely open and is flared outwardly as shown at 21 in FIG. 5 so that the cover may act as a stand for the toothbrush during use when it is desired to set it down on some supporting surface.

The opposite end of the cover is preferably substantially completely enclosed. Accordingly, a lip 22 is provided which is integral with the body portion of the cover and which may be hinged thereto at 23 so that it is flexible in both directions inwardly and outwardly of the cover. An opening 24 remains in alignment with channel 18 for handle portion 11 to protrude therethrough and also for circulation of air for drying purposes. The lip 22 thus permits sliding movement of the cover from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that FIG. 5 without removal of the cover from the toothbrush.

In the alternative lip 22 may be afiixed on its sides to the adjacent cover portions in which case the toothbrush would have to be separated from the cover and inserted from its opposite end into opening 24 to form the stand shown in FIG. 5.

Thus, it may be seen that applicant has provided a relatively simple and inexpensive cover for a toothbrush which is effective not only to protect the bristle portion when not in use but also which may act as a temporary stand for the brush as well as an additional rigid grip during brushing. The large opening 20 at the lower end of the cover and smaller opening 24 at the opposite end permit air circulation when the brush is not in use so that its bristles may quickly dry out.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of Ways. The invention is therefore not to be limited to the precise details disclosed, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications falling within the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toothbrush cover and stand comprising a body portion having a continuous and endless cross-section defining an enclosure for the brush portion of said toothbrush, a channel extending along the interior of said body portion and defined by a section of said body portion completely encompassing the outer part of the enclosed toothbrush and further by a pair of oppositely disposed, inwardly directed ribs, said ribs being disposed completely above and adapted to define a snug fit against the sides of the handle portion of said toothbrush, said body portion being open at one end thereof, said open end being outwardly flared to a maximum at the extremity of said open end to enable said cover and stand to stand vertically upon said open end while said toothbrush extends upwardly therefrom, the opposite and outer end of said body portion being provided with an enclosure except for that portion in alignment with said channel, said body portion being slidable along the end of the toothbrush 4 handle portion to provide an additional gripping means 2,651,070 9/1953 Zimmerman 15185 for said toothbrush. 2,655,968 10/1953 Simmons. 1

2. A toothbrush cover and stand according to claim 1 2,947,412 8/1960 Tupper 206-15 wherein said enclosure comprises a hinged lip movable inwardly and outwardly of said body portion. 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 130,691 12/ 1948 Australia.

References Cited 101,840 6/1941 Sweden.

UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

1,266,382 5/1918 Bailey. 1,690,311 11/1928 Reich 206-15 PETER FELDMANEmmme" 

1. A TOOTHBRUSH COVER AND STAND COMPRISING A BODY PORTION HAVING A CONTINUOUS AND ENDLESS CROSS-SECTION DEFINING AN ENCLOSURE FOR THE BRUSH PORTION OF SAID TOOTHBRUSH, A CHANNEL EXTENDING ALONG THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY PORTION AND DEFINED BY A SECTION OF SAID BODY PORTION COMPLETELY ENCOMPASSING THE OUTER PART OF THE ENCLOSED TOOTHBRUSH AND FURTHER BY A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED, INWARDLY DIRECTED RIBS, SAID RIBS BEING DISPOSED COMPLETELY ABOVE AND ADAPTED TO DEFINE A SNUG FIT AGAINST THE SIDES OF THE HANDLE PORTION OF SAID TOOTHBRUSH, SAID BODY PORTION BEING OPEN AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID OPEN END BEING OUTWARDLY FLARED TO A MAXIMUM AT THE EXTREMITY OF SAID OPEN END TO ENABLE SAID COVER AND STAND TO STAND VERTICALLY UPON SAID OPEN END WHILE SAID TOOTHBRUSH EXTENDS UPWARDLY THEREFROM, THE OPPOSITE AND OUTER END OF SAID BODY PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ENCLOSURE EXCEPT FOR THAT PORTION IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CHANNEL, SAID BODY PORTION BEING SLIDABLE ALONG THE END OF THE TOOTHBRUSH HANDLE PORTION TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL GRIPPING MEANS FOR SAID TOOTHBRUSH. 